The curtain came down on the 2012-13 Premier League season on Sunday. Here we look back at five of best matches in another dramatic campaign:
October 28, 2012
Chelsea 2 Manchester United 3
United closed the gap on early leaders Chelsea to one point after Javier Hernandez's late goal secured a dramatic win over the nine-man European champions at Stamford Bridge.
David Luiz's own goal and Robin van Persie's clinical finish gave United a two-goal lead early on, but Chelsea fought back superbly to level with goals from Juan Mata and Ramires either side of the interval.
However, red cards for Branislav Ivanovic and Fernando Torres swung the momentum back towards United, who stole the points thanks to Hernandez's close-range winner in the 75th minute.
December 9, 2012
Manchester City 2 Manchester United 3
Robin van Persie sparked chaotic scenes as the United striker's injury-time winner capped a heated Manchester derby at Eastlands and put his side six points clear of their bitter rivals.
United had raced into a two-goal lead as Wayne Rooney struck in the 16th and 29th minutes.
But Yaya Toure's effort on the hour gave City a lifeline and the champions looked to have rescued a point when Pablo Zabaleta equalised with only four minutes to play.
There was a sting in the tale for City, though, as van Persie's free-kick curled past Joe Hart, prompting one City fan to invade the pitch in a bid to confront United defender Rio Ferdinand, who had been struck in the face by a coin while celebrating the winner.
December 29, 2012
Arsenal 7 Newcastle 3
Theo Walcott underlined his value to Arsenal with a stunning display that helped Arsenal hit a magnificent seven at the Emirates Stadium.
Walcott was engaged in fraught contract negotiations with Arsenal at the time, but he had the ideal leverage after scoring three goals and setting up two more against the Magpies.
Walcott swept Arsenal in front but Demba Ba equalised with a deflected free-kick.
After Sylvain Marveaux tapped in to cancel out Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's low shot, Lukas Podolski nodded home.
Ba levelled again, only for Walcott to score twice more, either side of a brace from substitute Olivier Giroud as Newcastle, beaten 4-3 at Manchester United in their previous game, crumbled in the final minutes.
Walcott walked off to chants of "sign him up" at the full-time whistle and within weeks he had agreed a three-and-a-half-year extension worth £100,000 per week.
April 21, 2013
Liverpool 2 Chelsea 2
Luis Suarez showcased both sides of his personality as the Liverpool striker headed a dramatic late equaliser in a match that will forever be remembered for his bite on Branislav Ivanovic.
Oscar headed in a corner to put the visitors in front but Daniel Sturridge tapped in a Suarez cross to equalise.
An Eden Hazard penalty restored Chelsea's lead after a handball by Suarez, who bit Blues defender Ivanovic's arm while contesting a challenge shortly after.
Suarez then levelled in the 97th minute with a header from Sturridge's cross deep into stoppage time, but it is his cannibal antics that made the headlines and eventually earned him a 10-match ban.
May 19, 2013
West Bromwich Albion 5 Manchester United 5
Alex Ferguson signed off as Manchester United manager with an extraordinary 5-5 draw at the Hawthorns in his 1,500th and final game.
Ferguson, fittingly bowing out as a Premier League champion for the 13th time, watched on as a hectic game full of the attacking football that he loves provided the perfect finale to his incredible reign.
United led 3-0, and then 5-2, but West Brom scored three times in five minutes, with substitute Romelu Lukaku completing a second-half hat-trick in the 86th minute to prevent Ferguson from signing off with victory.
Source: AFP
